Disc label applicator system and method

Abstract

A label applicator system for applying a disc-shaped label on a top surface of a disc. The system comprises an applicator base structure with a disc support structure and a handling tab support surface. The label is produced from a label sheet. The label sheet has tearing lines and cuts therein made in such a manner and position as to leave a part of a bottom layer of the sheet glued onto the bottom surface of a top layer in the form of a handling tab when the label is peeled off from the label sheet. At least one perforation is formed within the handling tab to extend over a corresponding at least one alignment post on the applicator base structure for installation and alignment of the label on the disc. A method of applying such a label on a disc is also disclosed.

1 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A label applicator system for applying a disc-shaped label on a top surface of a disc, said label applicator system comprising:
 an applicator base structure comprising:
 a disc support structure; and 
 a handling tab support surface attached to the disc support structure and comprising at least one alignment post extending vertically away from the handling tab support surface, said handling tab support surface being generally in alignment with the top surface of the disc when the disc is inserted in the disc support structure; 
   
       wherein the label is produced from a label sheet comprising:
   a top layer having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface being covered with a pressure sensitive adhesive glue; and   a bottom layer having an upper surface detachably fixed to the lower surface of the top layer by means of said adhesive glue, said bottom layer being peelable from the lower surface of the top layer, said top and bottom layers having tearing lines punched therein, the bottom layer having a first cut, the top layer having a second cut that is disc-shaped and defines the disc-shaped label, all said tearing lines and cuts made in such a manner and position as to leave a part of said bottom layer glued onto the bottom surface of the top layer in the form of a handling tab when said disc-shaped label is peeled off from the label sheet, said top and bottom layers further having at least one perforation formed within said handling tab, said at least one perforation being sized and positioned so as to extend over the corresponding at least one alignment post of the handling tab support surface when the label is inserted on the applicator base structure for installation of the label on the disc, thus allowing an edge of the label opposite the handling tab to be applied to the disc and then allowing a gradual application of a pressure to a remainder of the label through a movement extending from said edge towards the handling tab which is peelable away from the label.   
 
     
     
         26 . The label applicator system according to  claim 25 , wherein said label sheet is made of paper. 
     
     
         27 . The label applicator system according to  claim 25 , wherein the upper surface of the bottom layer of the label sheet is covered with silicone. 
     
     
         28 . The label applicator system according to  claim 25 , the system comprising a plurality of alignment posts and a corresponding plurality of perforations and wherein the plurality of alignment posts are substantially cylindrical in shape and the plurality of perforations are substantially circular. 
     
     
         29 . The label applicator system according to  claim 25 , the system comprising a plurality of alignment posts and a corresponding plurality of perforations, and wherein the perforations are slot-shaped and the alignment posts are shaped to correspond to said slot-shaped perforations. 
     
     
         30 . The label applicator system according to  claim 25 , wherein the at least one alignment post is shaped to prevent rotation of the label about the at least one alignment post upon installation thereon. 
     
     
         31 . The label applicator system according to  claim 25 , wherein the label sheet further comprises a pair of case spine labels made with a cut through the top layer of the label sheet. 
     
     
         32 . The label applicator system according to  claim 25 , wherein the label sheet comprises a pair of disc-shaped labels for installation on discs. 
     
     
         33 . A label sheet for use with a label applicator system for applying a disc-shaped label on a top surface of a disc, said label applicator system comprising an applicator base structure, said base structure comprising a disc support structure and a handling tab support surface, said support surface attached to the disc support structure and comprising at least one alignment post extending vertically away from the handling tab support surface, said handling tab support surface being generally in alignment with the top surface of the disc when the disc is inserted in the disc support structure, said label sheet comprising:
 a top layer having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface being covered with a pressure sensitive adhesive glue; and   a bottom layer having an upper surface detachably fixed to the lower surface of the top layer by means of said adhesive glue, said bottom layer being peelable from the lower surface of the top layer, said top and bottom layers having tearing lines punched therein, the bottom layer having a first cut, the top layer having a second cut that is disc-shaped and defines the disc-shaped label, all said tearing lines and cuts made in such a manner and position as to leave a part of said bottom layer glued onto the bottom surface of the top layer in the form of a handling tab when said disc-shaped label is peeled off from the label sheet, said top and bottom layers further having at least one perforation formed within said handling tab, said at least one perforation being sized and positioned so as to extend over the corresponding at least one alignment post of the handling tab support surface when the label is inserted on the applicator base structure for installation of the label on the disc, thus allowing an edge of the label opposite the handling tab to be applied to the disc and then allowing a gradual application of a pressure to a remainder of the label through a movement extending from said edge towards the handling tab which is peelable away from the label.   
     
     
         34 . The label sheet according to  claim 33 , wherein said label sheet is made of paper. 
     
     
         35 . The label sheet according to  claim 33 , wherein the upper surface of the bottom layer of the label sheet is covered with silicone. 
     
     
         36 . The label sheet according to  claim 33 , wherein the label applicator system comprises a plurality of alignment posts and a corresponding plurality of perforations, and the plurality of alignment posts are substantially cylindrical in shape and the plurality of perforations are substantially circular. 
     
     
         37 . The label sheet according to  claim 33 , wherein the label applicator system comprises a plurality of alignment posts and a corresponding plurality of perforations, the perforations are slot-shaped and the alignment posts are shaped to correspond to said slot-shaped perforations. 
     
     
         38 . The label sheet according to  claim 33 , wherein the at least one alignment post of the label applicator system is shaped to prevent rotation of the label about the at least one alignment post upon installation thereon. 
     
     
         39 . The label sheet according to  claim 33 , wherein the label sheet further comprises a pair of case spine labels made with a cut through the top layer of the label sheet. 
     
     
         40 . The label sheet according to  claim 33 , wherein the label sheet comprises a pair of disc-shaped labels for installation on discs. 
     
     
         41 . A method of applying a disc-shaped label to a top surface of a disc, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing an applicator base structure comprising:
 a disc support structure; and 
 a handling tab support surface attached to the disc support structure and comprising at least one alignment post extending vertically away from the handling tab support surface, said handling tab support surface being generally in alignment with the top surface of the disc when the disc is inserted in the disc support structure; 
   b) providing a label produced from a label sheet, said label sheet comprising:
 a top layer having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface being covered with a pressure sensitive adhesive glue; and 
 a bottom layer having an upper surface detachably fixed to the lower surface of the top layer by means of said adhesive glue, said bottom layer being peelable from the lower surface of the top layer, said top and bottom layers having tearing lines punched therein, the bottom layer having a first cut, the top layer having a second cut that is disc-shaped and defines the disc-shaped label, all said tearing lines and cuts made in such a manner and position as to leave a part of said bottom layer glued onto the bottom surface of the top layer in the form of a handling tab when said disc-shaped label is peeled off from the label sheet, said top and bottom layers further having at least one perforation formed within said handling tab, said at least one perforation being sized and positioned so as to extend over the corresponding at least one alignment post of the handling tab support surface when the label is inserted on the applicator base structure for installation of the label on the disc; 
   c) tearing the handling tab away from the label sheet along the tearing lines;   d) peeling the label away from the label sheet using the handling tab;   e) inserting the handling tab on the handling tab support surface;   f) applying pressure on an edge of the label opposite the handling tab to contact the label to the disc;   g) peeling the handling tab away from the label; and   h) applying pressure to a remainder of the label through a movement extending from said edge towards the opposite edge of the label.   
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein said label sheet is made of paper. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein the upper surface of the bottom layer of the label sheet is covered with silicone. 
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein the label applicator system comprises a plurality of alignment posts and a corresponding plurality of perforations, the plurality of alignment posts are substantially cylindrical in shape and the plurality of perforations are substantially circular. 
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein the label applicator system comprises a plurality of alignment posts and a corresponding plurality of perforations, the perforations are slot-shaped and the alignment posts are shaped to correspond to said slot-shaped perforations. 
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein the at least one alignment post of the label applicator system is shaped to prevent rotation of the label about the at least one alignment post upon installation thereon. 
     
     
         47 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein the label sheet further comprises a pair of case spine labels made with a cut through the top layer of the label sheet. 
     
     
         48 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein the label sheet comprises a pair of disc-shaped labels for installation on discs.